More than 300 entries were made to the seventh annual Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) photo competition. Grade 7 to 12 students from Lacombe, Eckville, Ponoka, Rimbey and other schools within the district had their skills tested.
Jay Cottell, learning technologies consultant, coordinated this year’s competition, which is used to promote technology integration and photo capture techniques. Cottell sorted through the entries and came up with 100 solid contenders in four categories: outdoor, portrait, open, and special effects.
A panel of judges deliberated behind closed doors at the WCPS offices recently to review the images based on category relevance, composition, technical quality, creativity, and overall impact.
Cottell said the most interesting part was working with judges to discuss a photographer’s technique. He was grateful to the Wolf Creek board of trustees and the Wolf Creek Alberta teachers association local #3 who sponsored the prizes this year;.
First prize in each category won a digital camera, second place won a $50 gift card to Best Buy, and third won a $25 gift card to Best Buy.
Cottell hopes to see the competition grow each year with entries and possibly a new group of competitors. “I’m just waiting to hear if there will be a Grade 4 to 6 category.”
The winners are:
Open category: Ashley Makinaw, Grade 8 from the Ponoka Outreach School.
Outdoor category: Colton Popow, Grade 9 from E’cole Lacombe Junior High School.
Portrait category: Delaney Schlemko, Grade 9 from the Iron Ridge Junior Campus in Blackfalds.
Special Effects category: Allison Gregory, Grade 8 from the Clive School.
Note: The school board decided to fund another contest for grades 4 to 6 at a regular board meeting after the competition.